Although Lacerta bilineata has been treated as distinct from Lacerta viridis for several decades, the systematics of the Lacerta bilineata-Lacerta viridis complex remain unresolved and specific status for L. bilineata is only weakly supported by genetic data (Amann et al. 1997, Mayer and Beyerlein 2002, Speybroeck et al. 2020). No contact zone appears to exist between the two nominal forms, however, and the extent of any ongoing gene flow is unclear (Speybroeck et al. 2020). As such these authors do not propose any taxonomic changes at this stage.

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

The species is assessed as Least Concern for both Europe and the EU27 Member States in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

In Europe, which comprises most of this lizard's range, the species ranges from extreme northeast Italy, eastern Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, eastern Austria, and Slovenia, east to Romania, Moldova and southern Ukraine, southwards into the Balkan Peninsula in Croatia (including some Adriatic islands), Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Greece (including some Aegean islands, and excluding the Peloponnese).

In parts of its European range, including the Czech Republic and areas of the Balkans, interpreting the natural distribution is complicated by introductions, including those of non-native subspecies (summarized in Skawiński et al. 2019). In both Germany and the Bohemian region of Czechia it occurs in isolated, fragmentary subpopulations at the species' range margin (Skawiński et al. 2019, Chmelař et al. 2020). The species has been reported anecdotally from Poland, where it is considered extinct in the Polish Red Data Book, but there is no unambiguous evidence that the lizard has occurred naturally in this country since the end of last glaciation and several historical records refer to areas that fall outside the borders of the modern state (Skawiński et al. 2019). Its occurrence in this country, either historically or surviving at very low densities, is however plausible (Skawiński et al. 2019). Subpopulations from neighbouring Brandenburg (Germany) are relictual in poor-quality habitat, and the species has been lost from part of this region (Skawiński et al. 2019).

It is found from sea level up to 2,200 m asl in Europe but is usually found below 1,400 m asl (Speybroeck et al. 2016). An extinct, isolated subpopulation in Crimea (to which it was likely to have been introduced by Genoese colonists in the medieval period) described as the subspecies Lacerta viridis magnifica is now understood to have represented L. bilineata (Kehlmaier et al. 2020).

It is also present in both European and, out of the European region, Asian Türkiye, where it is largely distributed in the area of Marmara and along the Black Sea coastal region.

It can be a common species. Subpopulations at the north-west edge of the species range may be declining, and subpopulations are fragmented in that area. In Germany it is extremely rare and, while the population presently appears stable, it has undergone a "very strong decline" historically (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020). Declines and site losses have been recorded in Brandenburg (Skawiński et al. 2019). Within its core range the species seems to exhibit ongoing genetic exchange in areas of isolated habitat patches, suggesting that it is resilient to habitat fragmentation in the main part of its range (Nemitz-Kliemchen et al. 2020).

This species occurs in a variety of habitats, but appears to exhibit more "generalistic" tendencies towards the south of the range (Speybroeck et al. 2016). It is usually found in damp areas with dense vegetation and warm basking opportunities (Speybroeck et al. 2016). Preferred habitats range from south-facing vineyards and forest edges in the north of the range to open woodland, shrubland, overgrown fields and gardens, and hedgerows further south (Speybroeck et al. 2016). While it exhibits habitat specificity linked to vegetation structure at the periphery of its range in Germany and Czechia, in at least the Bulgarian part of its core range it appears to be a true generalist (Prieto-Ramirez et al. 2020). It is also found at woodland edges, and close to fences and hedges in traditionally cultivated land. The presence of peripheral, isolated subpopulations is positively correlated with slope inclination, supporting the hypothesis that deep river valleys offer thermal refuges for this species outside its core range (Chmelař et al. 2020). These authors' predicted distribution modelling - based on data from both peripheral (Bohemia) and core range (Moravia) subpopulations - found that the probability of the species' presence declined sharply in areas where the mean temperature of the hottest quarter exceeded 20 °C. It is an egg-laying species, with females laying one or two clutches of 5-23 eggs in May or June and hatchlings emerging in August in September (Speybroeck et al. 2016).

There appear to be no major threats to this wide ranging species. It is locally threatened in parts of its range, especially in the north, by general habitat loss, afforestation of suitable sites and predation by cats. Development approved but not yet underway in Brandenburg represents an imminent threat to this subpopulation (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020). The species has been subject to collection for the pet trade in areas around Berlin (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020). Although the German subpopulations are presumed to be stable overall the intrinsic effects of the high level of population fragmentation and the high densities of predators (both native species and exotic animals such as raccoons) represent ongoing threats to the persistence of both German subpopulations (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020). Agricultural expansion and associated increases in nutrient loads may degrade its habitat in these areas (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020).

In the northern parts of Türkiye, this species is locally threatened by the pesticide use causing the absence of prey and ingestion of pesticide-polluted prey.

This species is traded and kept as a pet in Europe, being easily found in "European zoological exchanges" (Skawiński et al. 2019).

This species is listed on Appendix II of the Bern Convention, and on Annex IV of the European Union Habitats Directive. It has been recorded from many protected areas. There is a need to conserve genetically isolated populations especially in the north of the species range. In Germany, this species is listed on the national Red List as "Threatened with extinction", the highest category for an extant species, and this subpopulation is regarded as being of high significance since it is an apparently natural isolate hundreds of kilometres from the species' core range (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020). A combination of site management (as German subpopulations are within protected areas), restoration of habitat connectivity, and potentially reintroductions to parts of its historic German range are recommended (Rote-Liste-Gremium Amphibien und Reptilien 2020). It is listed as Endangered in the Czech Republic (Jeřábková et al. 2017), but as Critically Endangered in national legislation. The predictive distribution model produced by Chmelařet al. (2020) identified several potentially suitable areas of Czechia where the species has not been recorded, and recommend surveying these areas as a priority both to identify any extant subpopulations in these areas and to evaluate their suitability for benign introductions and conservation management.